THE WATER-HEX. 307 



three broods in a season the first early in April ; and they 

 begin to lay again when the first hatch is about a fortnight 

 old. They lay eight or nine eggs, and sit about three weeks, 

 the cock alternately with the hen. The nest in the thorn- 

 bush is placed usually so high above the surface of the water, 

 that when the young are first hatched and have quitted it, 

 they cannot climb into it again ; but, as a substitute, within 

 an hour after they leave the nest, the cock bird builds a 

 larger and more roomy nest for them, with sedges, at the 

 water's edge, which they can enter or retire from at pleasure. 

 For about a month they are fed by the old birds, but soon 

 become very active in taking flies and water-insects. Imme- 

 diately on the second hatch coming out the young ones of 

 the first hatch assist the old ones in feeding and hovering 

 over them, leading them out in detached parties, and making 

 additional nests for them, similar to their own, on the brink 

 of the moat. 



On the appearance of the third brood, the old ones in- 

 variably drive the first away to a neighbouring pond, where 

 they remain till September, when the last hatch is about half- 

 grown. About this time a fresh party of birds makes its 

 appearance, which from their tameness is, no doubt, composed 

 of broods formerly bred there ; and in the moat the united 

 families remain till the following Spring, when the original 

 pair drive all the rest away, but not without many severe and 

 curious contests frequently in the water, when they throw 

 themselves on their rumps, and strike at each other with their 

 feet. When either of the combatants begins to find himself 

 worsted, he dives, and does not reappear, thus eluding his 

 adversary, by hiding his whole body under water, and merely 

 exposing his beak for respiration. 



During the breeding season, they are constantly adding 

 materials to their nest, making sad havoc in the flower- 

 garden ; for, though straw and leaves are their chief ingre- 

 dients, they seem to have an eye for beauty, and the old hen 

 has been seen surrounded with a brilliant wreath of scarlet 

 anemones. As in this case, so do they usually build their 

 nests on stumps of trees, or convenient bushes, by the side of 



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